Provocative Comments Land Canadian Radio Station in Hot Water

by Fred Jackson and Jody Brown
July 15, 2004

(AgapePress) - For the first time in Canadian broadcasting history, the government has pulled the license of a radio station for offensive remarks made by its hosts.

The Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission has refused to renew the broadcast license of CHOI-FM, a major radio station in Quebec City. The Globe and Mail newspaper reports the unprecedented move came after the hosts, Jeff Fillion and André Arthur, failed to heed warnings about airing remarks on a number of topics.

Although some of the hosts' comments were of a sexual nature, others dealt with such things as criticizing foreign students from Muslim countries, doing away with psychiatric patients, and encouraging people to steal satellite TV signals.

While few are defending the actual content of the remarks, it has raised concern in Canada over freedom of speech rights and the power of the government to regulate airwaves. The newspaper report quotes one media law expert who feels the government -- using content as a basis -- should not have the authority to determine if a broadcast entity should exist. The station's broadcast license expires August 31.

Numerous complaints against CHOI have been logged in the past -- 47 before 2002, when the station's license was renewed for just two years instead of the normal seven; and 45 since that renewal. That latter quantity came after the station promised to regulate itself and became a member of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.

Canada recently added critical remarks made about homosexuality to its "hate crimes" laws. Christians have expressed concern that the move could lead to charges against preachers and the possibility of Christian radio stations losing their licenses.